The European Commission will decide around the end of March whether it will file a formal complaint against Google for misusing of its market position, Reuters reported. "I will receive comments from the case team towards the end of the first quarter. I do not expect anything sooner. Let us see," EU Competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia told Reuters at the sidelines of an industry conference. The Commission opened an investigation into Google in November 2010 after a number of companies including Microsoft accused the company of abusing its dominant position in the market for web search services. In all, ten complainants, ranging from the UK's Foundem and Germany's VfT to France's Deal du Jour and search engine 1plusV, have formally complained to the Commission. Last month, the Spanish Association of Daily Newspaper Publishers (AEDE) became the latest. US regulators are also investigating Google's business practices. A source told Reuters that the probe has expanded to include the company's new social networking tool Google+. The Commission can fine companies up to 10 percent of their global turnover.
